UAE consortium follow lightning coup for City by mounting big-money bids for Valencia's Villa, Real's Robinho and German forward Gomez

Manchester City's prospective new owner has revealed the club have lodged bids for Valencia striker David Villa and Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez as well as Dimitar Berbatov ahead of tonight's transfer deadline.

And later reports suggested that Real Madrid's long-term Chelsea target Robinho was also in their sights.

In a shocking turn of events today it was revealed City have been taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG) with the deal agreed between Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim and City's owner Thaksin Shinawatra.

Al-Fahim, who is heading ADUG's takeover of the Barclays Premier League club, said that he is 'hopeful' a deal for Tottenham's Berbatov can be agreed before midnight after a fee of more than £30million was agreed. However, Villa and Gomez are also on the radar.

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Striking target: Manchester City have put offers on the table for Mario Gomez (left) and Valencia striker David Villa

'I am hopeful about Berbatov, but I need to speak to our colleagues in Englandto see what the latest is,' he said.

'We have bids in for three players. There is Berbatov, but there is also David Villa and Mario Gomez. We have bids in for Villa and Gomez and I am waiting to hear whether we have been successful with those (offers).

'Funds are available, and transfers such as these show we are serious.'

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No financial details were initially revealed in the statement about City's takeover, which was released by Samir Al-Neel, media and public relations manager at Hydra Properties. Al-Fahim is chief executive of Hydra Properties while it was added Dr Khalid Kadfour Al-Muhairy, the head of the Emirates Group for advocate and legal consultants was also involved in the negotiations.

'The investment services and development in Abu Dhabi, has successfully completed the huge takeover of the English club (Manchester City), one of the most prominent and oldest English clubs,' the statement read.

Al Fahim told www.arabianbusiness.com: 'We will release details later, but this is a great event for both the club and Abu Dhabi.

'Our goal is very simple - to make Manchester City the biggest club in the Premier League, and to begin with, to finish in the top four this season.'

Former Thailand Prime Minister Shinawatra took charge at City in July 2007 but reports indicate he has now left the club.

Al Fahim said: 'We will adopt marketing plans that reflect positively on the club and the company from investments in all sectors of television marketing and purchasing of the star players, as well as development of infrastructure facilities at the club.'

Thaksin had big plans for the Blues when he took over 14 months ago but his hopes have been dashed amid legal wrangling in his own country which currently see £1billion of his investments frozen.

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UAE consortium follow lightning coup for City by mounting big-money bids for Valencia's Villa, Real's Robinho and German forward Gomez